Sales have remained mostly unchanged in the past four months — largely, analysts say, because of a limited supply of homes. Economists still expect the housing market to continue recovering this year.

The low supply, combined with rising demand for housing, could accelerate construction in coming months. The realtors group said buyer traffic is 25 percent higher than it was a year ago.

A steady housing recovery is providing support to the economy this year. Builders are starting work on more homes, boosting the number of construction jobs. And home prices are rising. Higher prices tend to make homeowners feel wealthier and encourage more spending.